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This report highlights the harmonization of specific liquor taxes on alcoholic beverages that took effect on Oct.1st, 2024. U.S. exports of these products are not directly affected, but exporters should be aware of these changes.

The Philippine excise tax for alcohol products increased by six percent on January 1, 2025, and will continue to increase at a fixed rate of six percent annually, as stipulated in the law, which does not include a sunset provision.

In 2023, Hong Kong was the world’s nineth largest spirits importer. The city’s global imports surpassed pre-pandemic levels by 30 percent and reached a new record valued of $779 million. Last year, domestic consumption grew significantly as both on-trade and off-trade sales registered remarkable growth.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

Japan’s National Tax Agency (NTA) proposed to recognize Single Malt Welsh Whisky as a geographical indication (GI) alcoholic beverage from the United Kingdom (UK).

Singapore imports more than 90 percent of its food and has a diverse, competitive array of trading partners. The United States and Singapore have a long-standing free trade agreement (FTA), and Singapore is a well-developed market for high-quality food and agricultural products.

Japan has a well-developed food retail market that demands high-quality, high-value agricultural and food products. Despite reduced economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, trade data show that agricultural imports have remained resilient.

In 2022, Hong Kong was the world’s tenth largest spirits importer, with global imports recovering 7 percent year-on-year and valued at $502 million. From 2020-2021, Hong Kong’s imports and domestic sales of spirits were seriously hampered under the COVID-19 pandemic, as most restaurants, pubs, and bars were closed due to stringent dining, social distancing, and travel restrictions.

China will continue to collect countervailing (CVD) and antidumping (AD) duty duties on imported Distiller’s Dried Grains with or without Solubles (DDGS) from the United States for five more years.

The United States is among the top five suppliers of distilled spirits to the Philippines, supplying mostly whiskey. Philippine importation of U.S. distilled spirits in 2021 dropped to $4.6 million, 42 percent lower than the pre-pandemic level.